`TIME TO FORGET PAST': Vietnam decision gets local backing

Chien Vu was a lieutenant in the South Vietnam Army. After his country fell to communist North Vietnam in 1975, he spent five years in a prison camp before he was allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1980. Now 41, he doesn't trust Vietnam's current government. He doesn't believe they've given U.S. o...

Chien Vu was a lieutenant in the South Vietnam Army. After his country fell to communist North Vietnam in 1975, he spent five years in a prison camp before he was allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1980.

Now 41, he doesn't trust Vietnam's current government. He doesn't believe they've given U.S. officials all the information they have about American soldiers who were missing in action. But like many other Vietnamese in the area -- and President Clinton -- he believes it's time for the two nations to establish full diplomatic relations.

``Maybe it will open the gate,'' said Vu, who owns the Quincy Market convenience store on Washington Street. ``Maybe now more freedom will come to my country.''

Clinton was expected to announce his controversial decision to normalize relations with Vietnam today at the White House.

Most local Vietnamese and U.S. Vietnam veterans interviewed yesterday weren't exactly enthusiastic about the move, but generally supported it.

``After 20 years, we have to forget the past and go ahead with the future,'' electronics technician Cuong Ton of Randolph said.

Di That Ton of Quincy, a former South Vietnam colonel, agreed. ``This is the era of peace and reconciliation,'' said Ton, 62, who owns a Dairy Mart grocery. ``A better relationship with the U.S. is the best thing at this time.''

He and others said it's the best thing for another reason: They hope that normalized relations will hasten the demise of the communist regime, ``just like in the Soviet Union,'' Chien Vu said.

Most local Vietnam veterans interviewed said they are supporting Clinton's decision with reluctance.

``Why not?'' shrugged Marine veteran Paul O'Connell of Stoughton. ``It's been so long. The war is over.''

Bob Whitford of Plymouth, a former Army helicopter pilot, said, ``What else do we do, hold a grudge?''

Whitford and other veterans are as concerned as ever about accounting for the remaining 2,002 MIAs, and they don't trust Vietnam's government any more than Chien Vu does. They just hope the carrot of full diplomatic ties and open trade will encourage Vietnam to turn over all the information it has.

``I don't know if it's too soon or not,'' said Army veteran Bill Marsh of Weymouth. ``Maybe we'll have some leverage now.''

But Marine veteran Frank Noe of Stoughton said Clinton's action is premature, because of the MIAs.

``I know a lot of time has gone by,'' said Noe, who made a return visit to Vietnam in 1989. ``But we shouldn't do this until all Americans are satisfied that all our guys have been found. Otherwise, we're just doing this for the money.''

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MIA activist Becky Coit of Rockland feels the same way.

``It's horrendous, and it's 'way too soon,'' said Coit, who holds annual POW-MIA programs in Abington. She also doubts that the United States will get any more MIA records now.

For local Vietnamese and some veterans, the money that will come with better trade does matter -- for the people of Vietnam.

``The Communists will still rule, but life will be better there,'' said Tom Pham, 38, a microchip analyst who came to Quincy three years ago.

O'Connell, who returned to visit Vietnam in 1990, noted that most of the country's population has been born or grown up since the war ended.

``We're just punishing people who weren't even alive at the time,'' he said.